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L’octodon, un compagnon idéal pour les enfants

Mixed Breed · Unknown

Your child wants a pet but you don't want a dog or cat in the house? Rodents remain a very interesting solution, especially the octodon, which is suitable for children who are at least six years old. So, what should you know about this animal? The octodon or Chilean degu. The octodon is a small rodent that is considered a pet. They are indeed very common today. Small in size, they were used before only in laboratories but in recent years, they are found more and more in homes. It is a mammal that belongs to the order of rodents and the family of octodontidae. At adulthood, this small rodent can weigh up to 300 grams. As for its morphology, it looks at first glance like a gerbil, but its fur is generally darker. Its head is quite wide with small ears. It has whiskers on its snout like those of a cat. The octodon has a fairly long tail with a tuft of black hair at the end. It measures between 12 cm and 20 cm as an adult without the tail. This can measure between 10 cm to 16 cm. The octodon is a very curious small animal but it is also very affectionate. It is better to raise it in a pair because it does not tolerate loneliness well. Indeed, it loves to play with its fellow members of the same species when it remains in its cage. It is a very clean rodent by nature. It drinks very little and therefore urinates accordingly, which means it does not require as much care as other rodents. It is also a docile rodent that can be easily tamed. It rarely bites, it is simply necessary not to rush it or scare it. The octodon is a diurnal rodent, which makes it ideal for children. It is especially active in the late evening, at dusk. Regarding the diet of the octodon, it is a rodent that needs to gnaw its teeth. Hay is therefore an essential component to include in its diet. Otherwise, special seeds for octodons are recommended. It is possible to give it vegetables as well since it needs them, as well as fruits and dried fruits occasionally. It does not drink much, but it will still be necessary to provide water in its litter at all times.

FR·Show original

Votre enfant souhaite un animal de compagnie mais vous ne voulez pas d’un chien ou d’un chat dans la maison ? Les rongeurs restent une solution très intéressante, spécialement l’octodon qui convient aux enfants, qui ont tout de même plus de six ans. Alors, que faut-il savoir sur cet animal ? L’octodon ou dègue du Chili L’octodon est un petit rongeur qui est considéré comme étant un NAC. Ils sont en effet très répandus aujourd’hui. De petite taille, il était utilisé avant uniquement dans les laboratoires mais depuis quelques temps, il se retrouve de plus en plus dans les maisons. C’est un mammifère qui fait parti de l’ordre des rongeurs et de la famille des octodontidés . A l’âge adulte, ce petit rongeur peut peser jusqu’à 300 grammes. Quant à sa morphologie, il ressemble à première vue à une gerbille, mais ses poils sont plus sombres en règle générale. Sa tête est assez large avec des petites oreilles. Il porte sur son museau des vibrisses comme celles du chat. L’octodon possède une queue assez longue avec une touffe de poils noirs à l’extrémité. Il mesure entre 12 cm et 20 cm à l’âge adulte sans la queue. Celle-ci peut mesurer entre 10cm à 16cm. L’octodon est un petit animal très curieux mais il est également très affectueux. Il est préférable de l’élever en couple car il supporte mal la solitude. En effet, il adore jouer avec ses congénère quand il reste dans sa cage. C’est un petit rongeur très propre par nature. Il boit très peu et urine donc en conséquence, ce qui fait qu’il ne nécessite pas autant de soins que les autres rongeurs. C’est également un rongeur docile et qui se laisse apprivoiser facilement. Il mord rarement, il suffit tout simplement de ne pas le brusquer et de l’effrayer. L’octodon est un rongeur diurne , ce qui fait qu’il est idéal pour les enfants. Il est surtout en activité en fin de soirée, au crépuscule. Pour ce qui est de l’alimentation de l’octodon , c’est un rongeur qui a besoin de se faire les dents. Le foin est donc un apport à absolument inclure à son alimentation. Du reste, les graines spéciales pour octodons sont conseillées. Il est possible de lui donner des légumes en plus car il en a besoin, de même que des fruits et des fruits secs de temps à autres. Il ne boit pas beaucoup, mais il sera quand même nécessaire de mettre de l’eau à sa portée à tout moment.

Size
Small
Age
Location
🇫🇷Paris
Shelter
CaniMinet
Living with L’octodon, un compagnon idéal pour les enfants
  • Good with kids
Cared for by CaniMinet · ParisLearn about Mixed Breed

Listed 2 months ago

Bringing L’octodon, un compagnon idéal pour les enfants home

What you'll need for L’octodon, un compagnon idéal pour les enfants in week one.

Hand-picked · prices indicative

  1. 01
    Required by most shelters

    Trixie Transport Box

    Sturdy plastic carrier — what most shelters require for pickup.

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    €35–45
  2. 02
    Editor's pick

    Folding Wire Crate

    First-week safe space. Shelter dogs settle faster with a crate.

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    €50–80
  3. 03
    Legal · EU

    Car Seatbelt Tether

    Legally required in most EU countries for transporting dogs.

    View on Amazon
    €8–12
  4. 04

    Adaptil Calming Spray

    Dog-specific pheromone diffuser. Worth it for the trip home.

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    €18–25
  5. 05

    Orthopaedic Dog Bed

    Worth the upgrade — rescues often have joint issues from kennels.

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    €30–60
  6. 06
    Safer than a collar

    Padded Y-Front Harness

    Escape-proof for spooky rescues. Safer than a collar in week one.

    View on Amazon
    €20–35

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About L’octodon, un compagnon idéal pour les enfants

What life with L’octodon, un compagnon idéal pour les enfants looks like

L’octodon, un compagnon idéal pour les enfants is a small adult mixed breed dog waiting at CaniMinet in Paris.

An adult dog fits most household rhythms once the first couple of weeks of adjustment pass. Two reasonable walks a day plus play time is usually enough. Plan a "decompression fortnight" — quiet routine, no visitors, no off-leash adventures — to let them settle.

🇫🇷Adopting from France

French refuges follow the SPA framework: adopters sign a cession contract that includes sterilization, vaccinations, microchip identification, and rabies passport. Fees are typically €150–€300. Many refuges work with rescue transport partners for cross-border placements.

Paris, France browse more dogs in France.

Frequently asked

Adopting L’octodon, un compagnon idéal pour les enfants, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about L’octodon, un compagnon idéal pour les enfants?
Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. CaniMinet handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw L’octodon, un compagnon idéal pour les enfants on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt L’octodon, un compagnon idéal pour les enfants if I live in another country?
Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — CaniMinet will tell you what they need (EU pet passport, rabies titer, transport coordination) and whether they handle transport themselves or refer you to a partner. Plan for an extra €100–€350 in transport costs depending on distance.
Is L’octodon, un compagnon idéal pour les enfants already vetted, vaccinated, and chipped?
Most dogs on TailHarbor leave their shelter with sterilization, current vaccinations, microchip ID, and an EU pet passport included in the adoption fee. The vet status on this page reflects what the shelter has reported — ask them directly if you need details on specific vaccines, recent bloodwork, or chronic conditions.
What happens if L’octodon, un compagnon idéal pour les enfants isn't the right fit?
Every reputable rescue accepts an animal back if the adoption genuinely doesn't work — that's part of the standard contract. Talk it through with CaniMinet early rather than rehoming privately; they know L’octodon, un compagnon idéal pour les enfants and can place them more successfully than a second-hand listing can.
Why does the description sometimes read awkwardly?
TailHarbor translates shelter descriptions into English from the source language (FR). Translation is imperfect — names of streets, donors, and shelter-specific terms occasionally slip through unidiomatically. For the cleanest read, click the source link to see the shelter's original page.
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